Canine teeth, also referred to as cuspids or eye teeth, are generally the last of the front teeth to fully erupt and fall into place in the mouth. They differ from incisors in that they have thicker, longer, more conical roots that create an especially firm connection to the jaw. Maxillary, or upper, canines are among the most common teeth to become impacted, second only to wisdom teeth. Impaction essentially means that a tooth is stuck or blocked, unable to fully erupt into place and function properly.

Since wisdom teeth serve no important function in the mouth, impacted ones are removed. Canines, on the other hand, serve several crucial purposes in terms of oral function and appearance. Canines aid in establishing proper alignment of the front teeth and help to close gaps between them as they emerge into the jaw. They are also the first teeth to touch when the jaw closes, guiding other teeth into proper bite position. For these reasons, canines require treatment when they are impacted, rather than removal.

Among the most common reasons that canines become impacted is restricted space in the jaw. Overcrowding that inhibits canine eruption may be caused by improper alignment of front teeth or the presence of extra teeth. Less commonly, impacted canines can be caused by unusual growths on the soft tissue of the gums, which can slow or stop the progress of canine tooth eruption.If these problems are diagnosed and treated early on in the eruption process, canine impaction can be avoided, the tooth, once given the space, erupting naturally. However, the older a patient is at diagnosis, the less likely it is that this will occur. For that reason, a thorough examination of the teeth is recommended by age 7 to check the progress of canine eruption.